עֲלַע
a rib
Definition
The Aramaic noun עֲלַע (ʻălaʻ) means 'a rib' or 'side.' It appears only once in the biblical text, in Daniel 7:5, where it describes a beast 'raised up on one side.' This usage parallels the Hebrew word צֵלָע (tselaʻ, H6763), which can mean 'rib' (as in Genesis 2:21-22, where Eve is created from Adam's rib) or more broadly 'side' (as in Exodus 25:12, describing the sides of the ark). In its sole occurrence, the sense is likely 'side,' referring to the posture or stance of the symbolic beast.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in the Aramaic portion of the book of Daniel. It appears in Daniel 7:5 within a prophetic vision of a second beast, described as 'like a bear, and it was raised up on one side (עֲלַע).' The context is symbolic and apocalyptic, using physical posture to convey a meaning of dominance or readiness for action. No other biblical books use this specific Aramaic form.
Etymology
עֲלַע is an Aramaic noun directly corresponding to the Hebrew noun צֵלָע (tselaʻ, H6763), meaning 'rib,' 'side,' or 'chamber.' It is a loanword or cognate within the Semitic language family, showing the close relationship between Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Aramaic. The meaning development from a physical 'rib' to a broader 'side' or 'flank' is consistent in both languages.
Semantic Range
While the word itself is a simple anatomical term, its single use in Daniel 7:5 is theologically significant. The image of a beast 'raised up on one side' contributes to the symbolic portrayal of successive empires in Daniel's apocalyptic vision. Understanding that this Aramaic term carries the same semantic range as the Hebrew צֵלָע (tselaʻ) can enrich a reader's connection to the Genesis creation narrative (Genesis 2:21-22), subtly linking human origin with prophetic imagery of worldly power.
In the ancient Near East, the 'rib' or 'side' was not merely an anatomical reference but could symbolize strength, protection (as the ribs protect vital organs), or structural support. The use in Daniel to describe a beast's posture likely conveyed a cultural understanding of a dominant, aggressive stance, perhaps implying the beast was leaning into an attack or poised for conquest, which an ancient audience would immediately recognize as a sign of martial threat.
צֵלָע (tselaʻ, H6763) — The direct Hebrew equivalent, used for 'rib,' 'side,' or structural 'chamber' in many contexts.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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